Packers WR Allen Lazard did not practice on Wednesday and is on the injury report with an ankle. He seems to be in real danger of missing this weekend's opener vs. the Vikings, but we'll get another update on his status tomorrow. Lazard's absence would leave Romeo Doubs, Sammy Watkins and Randall Cobb as Green Bay's top 3 WRs.
Packers HC Matt LaFleur was non-committal on WR Allen Lazard's status for Sunday's opener vs. the Vikings. "We'll see as the week progresses," LaFleur said Monday. Lazard was reportedly sidelined last week with an undisclosed injury and was working off to the side of Monday's practice. We'll get Green Bay's first official injury report of the season on Wednesday.
Packers HC Matt LaFleur suggested Wednesday that there won't be a clear #1 in the WR corps this season. "I don't think anybody's clear cut in front of the other guy," LaFleur said. "I think it's gonna be very much the ball's gonna get spread around and we're gonna try to feature different guys in different spots." Allen Lazard, Romeo Doubs, Sammy Watkins and Randall Cobb all figure to get significant snaps early in the season. Lazard is the best fantasy bet for now, but don't treat him as more than a WR4.
Giants HC Brian Daboll said Sunday that QB Tyrod Taylor "should be OK" after his injury in the preseason finale, according to Dan Salomone of the team website. Taylor left the field in the 1st half and then rode from the medical tent to the locker room on a cart with a back injury. We'll see whether he's back in time for the regular-season opener.
Giants QB Tyrod Taylor left Sunday's preseason finale with an injury. He was initially able to jog off the field for examination in the medical tent. But Taylor went from there to the locker room on a cart. We'll watch for updates.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini believes rookie WR Garrett Wilson will hold a “significant role” in 2022. “Even if he's not a starter, per se, he will be heavily involved in a four-man rotation at receiver,” Cimini shared. Wilson’s struggled with drops at parts of training camp, but he’s also flashed the dynamic ability that made him the 10th overall pick. He’s a fringe WR4 in fantasy drafts.
The Jets on Tuesday released K Eddy Pineiro, leaving Greg Zuerlein as the team's kicker. Set your rankings.
Giants HC Brian Daboll said Tuesday morning that QB Tyrod Taylor "probably will get snaps at some point this preseason with the first team offense," according to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. Daboll followed that by saying the team has "full confidence" in QB Daniel Jones. But this seems like more than a just in case of injury scenario. Reports on Jones out of training camp haven't been good. We have to at least consider it possible that he gets yanked for Taylor at some point this season if the struggles spill over into the real games.
Jets HC Robert Saleh told reporters Tuesday that RT Mekhi Becton is likely done for the season, according to ESPN. Becton suffered what is believed to be an injury to his right patella. Although the team has yet to reveal specifics, it sounds like Becton tore the patellar tendon in that knee, which also required season-ending surgery last year. Losing Becton isn't a killer, but it hurts an offense that already had O-line questions.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini writes that Jets WR Garrett Wilson “hit a lull when the pads went on.” Cimini noted the increased physicality from DBs during padded practices. Wilson isn’t the biggest WR; he weighed in at 183 pounds at the Combine, although the Jets list him at 6’0, 192. We’re ultimately not concerned about his play strength long-term, but it’ll be something to monitor.
Jets RBs Breece Hall and Michael Carter split the workload in Saturday's intrasquad scrimmage, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. If that's how things continue to play out heading into the regular season, Carter could be a nice fantasy value. Hall, on the other hand, would see his ceiling limited. We remain more bullish on the 2nd-round rookie than the 4th-rounder from last year but will certainly track the situation through preseason.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini calls Jets TE Tyler Conklin an “under the radar” player who’s “impressing the organization.” Cimini notes the veteran’s smoothness as a pass-catcher and ability to line up in several spots. Conklin is coming off a career-best 61-593-3 line in Minnesota, but he’s fully expected to share snaps with C.J. Uzomah this fall. Both guys project as inconsistent fantasy contributors.
Jets TE Jeremy Ruckert (foot) has been cleared for "football activities," according to Newsday Sports' Al Iannazzone. The 3rd-round rookie has been sidelined since the spring with plantar fasciitis. Ruckert is a fine dynasty stash but a redraft long shot behind TEs Tyler Conklin and C.J. Uzomah.
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers said Wednesday that he thinks Allen Lazard "is ready to make a jump and be a #1 receiver." It's not the 1st time Rodgers has talked up Lazard this offseason. The advanced metrics aren't as kind to Lazard, but we know how important chemistry and trust is with Rodgers. If he's going to target Lazard like a true #1 WR, he could certainly deliver a nice profit at his WR46 ADP.
Jets beat writer Connor Hughes gave a progress update on WR Garrett Wilson post-OTAs and minicamp. “This was a guy that didn't really know what he was supposed to do, or kind of knew what what he was supposed to do, and was trying to figure it out as he went," Hughes observed. He did call Wilson “the most physically gifted” WR on the roster and believes the rookie will benefit from his time off before training camp. Ultimately, we’re not alarmed by a slow start from the 10th overall pick. Only 22 (later this month), Wilson remains a candidate to pace this deep Jets WR corps in targets.
Matt Schneidman of The Athletic believes WR Allen Lazard will lead the Packers in receptions. Schneidman cites Lazard’s “sturdy hands” and a budding rapport with Aaron Rodgers. The losses of Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling took away 224 targets, so there’s no doubting the opportunity in front of Lazard. New arrivals Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Sammy Watkins don't exactly supply tough target competition. Our current projections agree with Schneidman’s assessment.
Packers WR Allen Lazard has signed his 1-year restricted free-agent tender. If he and the team don't agree to a long-term deal, he'll make just about $4 million this year and then hit free agency next offseason. Lazard has a shot to lead Green Bay in targets this year and is a fine value at his recent WR45 FFPC ADP.
Speaking at minicamp, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers said he'll “definitely" finish his career in Green Bay. We’d give him some leeway to change his mind. But after signing an extension in March, the 38-year-old is signed through the 2024 season.
ESPN's Rob Demovsky reports that Packers WR Allen Lazard is not on hand for this week's mandatory minicamp. Lazard, of course, is not actually required to attend, because he has not signed his restricted free agent tender. That the 2 sides have not yet worked out anything longer term should give you pause about getting too excited over Lazard's outlook. Avoiding early-June minicamp might not ultimately matter for his 2022 role and production. But his absence will give more reps to younger WRs. At WR45 in current Underdog ADP, Lazard remains a fine player to mix into your best-ball drafting. That's almost exactly where he sits in our half-PPR WR rankings. We also prefer Lazard at cost over Christian Watson just about a round later. Consider mixing in some Randall Cobb and Romeo Doubs at the end of your drafts as well, though.
Jets GM Joe Douglas told ESPN's Rich Cimini that TE Tyler Conklin "looks like he could be a nice under-the-radar find." Given that the team signed Conklin to a 3-year, $20.25 million deal with $10 million guaranteed, we're not sure just how under the radar he really is. It's certainly worth noting that Conklin has already impressed his new team, but it's also worth remembering that he got only the 2nd largest contract among new Jets TEs this offseason. "I think C.J. [Uzomah] and Conklin are going to make a pretty strong duo in this offense." Throw in 3rd-round TE Jeremy Ruckert as well, and it's tough to get excited about the fantasy football outlook for any Jets TE in any format.
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